Chapter 8: First Soul Hunt
Soon, Huo Yutong's soft whimpers escalated into loud, tearful wails. All the grievances suffered over the past two months seemed to pour out in this cathartic,collapse-style breakdown.
The old butler also used voice transmission to inform Qian Zhaoguang about the Huo mother and daughter's recent situation during these two months.
The Duchess's bullying had intensified relentlessly, and Huo Yun'er had fallen gravely ill.
If the old butler hadn't stood his ground extremely firmly against the Duchess and insisted on bringing a doctor for treatment, this unfortunate woman might have passed away even earlier than depicted in the original story.
Faced with these successive blows, Huo Yutong could only watch helplessly, powerless to intervene.
The only thing she could do was channel all her grief and indignation into motivation for cultivation, striving to rescue her mother from that demon's den as soon as possible.
After a long while, the crying gradually subsided. She choked back sobs and wiped the tears from her red-rimmed eyes with her hands.
Her pitiful appearance tugged at Qian Zhaoguang's heartstrings.
He spoke softly, "Don't cry, don't be afraid. I'm still here."
Fresh tears welled up in Huo Yutong's eyes, and her words came out brokenly.
"Sob... Brother Zhaoguang... brother... I'm so scared..."
Qian Zhaoguang didn't say anything more, simply pulling her into his embrace again.
His strong heartbeat and the warmth radiating from his body soothed Huo Yutong's fragile spirit, while his sturdy arms provided her with a profound sense of security.
The two remained embracing in the small courtyard for a long time before her rapidly beating heart finally began to calm down.
Having been peeking through the door crack for quite some time, the old butler chuckled softly inside the room, muttering to himself, "This silly boy... dense as a block of wood, but his luck with romance isn't shallow at all. If these two little ones can actually end up together in the future, then I can finally rest easy... cough cough cough..."
It wasn't until they were seated in the carriage heading towards the Soul Beast Forest that Huo Yutong, having cried her eyes out several times, gradually recovered from her earlier breakdown.
Qian Zhaoguang didn't say much, just silently handed her a box of pastries.
Remembering her actions back in the courtyard, Huo Yutong's face flushed crimson, and she lowered her head, quietly eating the food in her hands.
Silence filled the carriage. The old butler personally drove the horses along the main road, heading northwest.
Qian Zhaoguang gazed out at the passing scenery, listening to the creaking of the carriage and Huo Yutong's soft chewing sounds, his thoughts drifting far away.
It seemed the wings of this small butterfly – himself – were having a much greater impact than he had anticipated.
He felt a degree of guilt towards Huo Yutong.
He had initially intended to raise her innate soul power, hoping she and Huo Yun'er wouldn't have to suffer as much as they did in the original story.
Unexpectedly, his good intentions had backfired.
He hadn't imagined the Duchess could be so utterly vicious, not even sparing a young girl.
In this era, under most circumstances, girls didn't even have inheritance rights; how could she possibly pose a threat to Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin?
I'll have to find an opportunity to compensate her in the future, he thought. After all, everything changed because of my actions.
It was impossible not to feel a sense of guilt.
The trio traveled like this, stopping and starting, and before they knew it, three days had passed.
As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.
Over these few days, Qian Zhaoguang had gained some insight into the unique customs and culture of the Douluo Continent.
Freed from the constraints and oppression of the Duke's Mansion, Huo Yutong's mood also gradually relaxed during the journey, her curiosity piqued by the novelties along the way.
With a distinct "Whoa!", the carriage came to a halt.
The old butler turned his head and said to the two inside, "We're almost there. I'll park the carriage nearby shortly, and then we'll proceed on foot."
"Okay, Grandpa," they replied in unison.
On the way, the old butler had already instructed them on various precautions and relevant knowledge regarding soul hunting.
This time, the old butler hadn't brought them to the famously renowned Star Dou Great Forest from the original works, but rather to a smaller Soul Beast Forest.
According to the old butler, although this forest was small, it housed quite a few rare Spirit-type soul beasts.
Due to the relatively small number of Soul Masters specializing in spiritual power, and the fact that the highest-level beasts were only a few scattered Ten-Thousand Year soul beasts, this place had managed to survive the 'mowing-style slaughter' of the past ten thousand years, escaping the fate of being completely exterminated.
As for the managed hunting forests that were maintained ten thousand years ago?
Please, the Spirit Hall was gone. Martial Soul Awakenings were no longer free, subsidies were no longer distributed to ordinary Soul Masters, and even the meager stipends given to Shrek's top students had been reduced to only one Gold Soul Coin per month.
That added up to a pitiful twelve coins per year, simply incomparable to the situation ten thousand years ago.
In this era of inflation, that amount was just barely enough to cover one year of Shrek's tuition fees, assuming one didn't eat or drink at all.
The three empires, busy beating each other's brains out, would hardly bother with such thankless projects that wasted manpower and resources.
Entering the Soul Beast Forest, the air gradually grew cooler.
Beyond the coolness, there was also a distinct sense of gravity.
Qian Zhaoguang's senses had always been exceptionally sharp.
In his perception, the Soul Beast Forest before him felt like a gigantic beast with its mouth wide open.
At any unknown moment, those fang-filled jaws could snap shut, claiming vibrant lives.
This was also his first time personally stepping into the legendary Soul Beast Forest.
After a brief moment of tension, his emotions shifted more towards excitement, his blood surging hotly within him.
He had cultivated diligently in seclusion for over three years; it was finally time to test the results of his training!
Just thinking about engaging in real combat with soul beasts made Qian Zhaoguang feel a rush of adrenaline; even the hand gripping his saber hilt trembled slightly.
"Xiao Guang, walk slower," the old butler called out. "Take advantage of this rare opportunity. I'll also educate you both on some knowledge about soul beasts. Later, if we encounter some weak Ten-Year soul beasts, you two can try your hand at fighting them."
The old butler held the somewhat apprehensive Huo Yutong's hand, walking behind.
Although his face wore a smile, his idle right hand kept moving in a rhythmic pattern, and his sharp gaze scanned their surroundings, ever vigilant against potential dangers that could appear at any moment.
"Look over there," he pointed. "That's a plant-type soul beast, a Ten-Year Sword Bamboo. The method to identify it is..."
Knowledge gained from paper always feels shallow; one must practice to truly understand.
Following the old butler's clear and concise explanations and teaching, the two learned a great deal while searching for soul beasts, gaining a certain level of understanding and knowledge about the soul beast species.
Huo Yutong channeled her soul power into her eyes. Accompanied by a faint swirling airflow, her Spirit Eyes emitted a pale blue light.
With the enhancement of her Martial Soul, she possessed a strong early warning capability.
Simultaneously, her Spirit Eyes allowed her to see farther and clearer, greatly enhancing her dynamic vision.
As they were moving forward, suddenly, a strange sensation surfaced in her mind.
Huo Yutong swiftly drew the dagger tucked at her waist and called out a warning, "Brother Zhaoguang, something is approaching us."
"Roger that."
Qian Zhaoguang stopped in his tracks, firmly gripping his saber hilt with both hands, his legs slightly bent, assuming a defensive stance.
A fierce fighting spirit burned in his eyes; he had long been eager to personally test his skills against a soul beast.
Unfortunately, the soul beasts they had encountered earlier were relatively powerful, and the old butler, worried about their safety, had directly intervened to drive them away, leaving Qian Zhaoguang feeling rather regretful.
This time, the old butler hadn't said anything, which meant the approaching target must be one the two of them could handle.
Suddenly, a black shadow darted out from behind the bushes ahead, landing right in front of the trio.
It was a jackal, standing about one meter tall. Its body was covered in greyish-black fur, its teeth sharp and menacing, and its eyes glowed with an eerie green light.
(End of Chapter)